In the gospel, Jesus is approached by a leper. He is moved by compassion, the deep gut-wrenching response that identifies with the suffering of another. Who are today’s “lepers,” people whom some consider as “polluting” society by their differences in race, culture, social mores, or physical and intellectual disabilities? What are our attitudes to those we might consider as weakening the moral fiber of society – the drug addicts, the HIV/AIDS sufferers, those in prison? Are we on the side of harsh, punitive justice or compassionate, restorative justice?